SPEECH BY HON. WILLIAM OLE NTIMAMA EGH, MP
MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL HERITAGE AND CULTURE DURING
THE
OFFICIAL
OPENING
OF
THE
5TH
SESSION
OF
THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
 H. E. Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, E.G.H., M.P.,
Vice President of the Republic of Kenya & Minister for Home
Affairs,
 Her Excellency Mrs. Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO,
 Distinguished Ministers,
 The Chairperson of the General Assembly Professor Kono,
 The
Chairperson
of
Intergovernmental
Committee
for
the
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
 Distinguished delegates,
 Excellencies,
 Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my heartfelt pleasure and honour to be here with you all today
on this auspicious occasion that marks the 5th session of the
Intergovernmental Committee meeting for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage. On behalf of the Ministry of State for
National Heritage and Culture, I would like to welcome you to the 5th
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session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of
the Intangible Heritage. I am equally delighted to note that Kenya is
the first country in Africa South of Sahara to have had the
opportunity to host this meeting. I wish to sincerely thank the States
Parties for having extended that honour to our beloved country
Kenya.
The decision by the committee to host its fifth session in Nairobi is a
vote of confidence in Kenya and Africa’s commitment to the
objectives of the Convention. The 2003 Convention for the
Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has indeed seen
measurable success, and the Government of Kenya’s acceptance
to host the fifth session of the committee was due to the recognition
that
the
Intangible
Heritage
is
fundamental
to
sustainable
development.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Kenya has so far made tremendous strides in the implementation of
the 2003. I am happy to say that, in the implementation of the 2003
Convention efforts, Kenya started with the convening of a
stakeholder’s forum where the convention was discussed and put in
the Kenyan context. This was then followed by the translation of the
convention into Kiswahili language to give Kenyans and the whole
world at large an opportunity to read the convention in a third
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language other than English and French. As we are gathered here
today, Kenya is taking an active role in the safeguarding of the
intangible Cultural Heritage of its people. At the moment, Kenya is
building its national inventory of ICH elements and the Ministry
submitted to UNESCO a second element for inscription under the
urgent safeguarding list in March 2010.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you are all aware, preserving of Cultural Heritage is the surest way
by which societies can maintain and link with the past and raise
healthy generations for future. With the convention for the
safeguarding of an intangible Cultural Heritage, countries of the
world have now, more than ever before, moved closer to harmony
and mutual encounter in many significant ways. I must thank the
great efforts put by a number of International governmental and
non-governmental organizations and bodies in harnessing the
common elements which brings people and nations closer together.
May I also commend the outstanding efforts which UNESCO has
exerted and continues to exert to have a common platform for
human culture which acts as a bridge to mutual encounter and
harmony between the members of the International family.
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Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Kenya started the preparation of this great meeting in January, 2010
and I am particularly happy that this meeting has attracted a record
number of participants representing committee members, state
parties to the convention, states not parties to the convention,
observer
Non-governmental
Organizations,
Civil
Society
Organization, Experts in Intangible Cultural Heritage and Individuals.
This means that about 400 people will follow the discussion of this
session. I understand that you have a packed agenda. The tasks and
responsibilities of the intergovernmental committee are numerous
and important. However, allow me to sincerely thank UNESCO and in
particular the secretariat to the convention, the President of the 5th
session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the effort they have
put in the organization of this meeting. I wish also to express my dear
appreciation to the Kenyan team who have worked tirelessly since
January this year to make this meeting successful.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last but not least, allow me to once again welcome you to Kenya.
Kenya is a beautiful country with a rich Cultural Heritage embodied
in its Cultural diversity. When you come to the end of this meeting,
kindly stay around for a day or two to sample our parks and see the
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animals, our beautiful beaches at the Coast and above all enjoy our
rich culture heritage.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With these remarks, I wish you a very successful meeting and fruitful
deliberations. I am therefore pleased to invite the H.E. Hon. Stephen
Kalonzo Musyoka, the Vice President of the Republic of Kenya and
Minister for Home Affairs to grace the occasion and give his remarks.
Thank you – Asante sana.
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